Iron Hive

Biography:

Italian design. Handmade in Germany.

Behind Iron Hive is Davide Mezzasalma, born in Rome 1981. Since 2012 he lives as a freelance designer in Berlin. He studied transportation design in Coventry/UK and Turin, before working as a designer at Fiat and in yacht building. "The more I got involved with design, the more I was fascinated by the craft process," says Mezzasalma. "The manual approach took over the mechanical, the experimental over the proven". In this spirit, the step to the creative and technical mastermind who offers custom-made furniture and interior concepts from a single source, was consistent. The idea for Iron Hive arose when he was looking for an original solution for a room divider in a private apartment. "My inspiration are the repetitive geometric elements on which nature itself is built: from atoms, cells, crystals to the honeycombs of a beehive. Elements that can divide, split and grow and thus find new forms," explains the designer. The innovative and versatile character of this modular shelving system has won the Red Dot Design Award in 2016.

Concept:

Inspired by the structure of a beehive, the Iron Hive modular shelving system offers flexible and dynamic high-end solutions at home, in the office or retail sector. It grows and transforms with the needs of its user. Everything begins with a comb: A 33 x 33 cm cube whose front lines are shifted and form its distinguishing polygonal shape. On its own, it can be used as a side table or stool next to a sofa, armchair or bed. One module is available in five different colours: blue grey, pebble grey, black, white and wine red. Like a metric system, these modules can be combined to form larger units, grow in length or height and thus become complex sideboards, bookshelves, room dividers or product displays. An oak plinth can support one, two or three modules, while larger shelving systems can be fitted with metal feet. Thanks to a sophisticated yet easy-to-install screw connection, they can be recombined over and over again - and thus offer completely individual design and application options.

Products:

Iron Hive Sistem

The geometric structure of the Iron Hive allows dynamic and highly aesthetic perspectives. From every angle, its shifted lines appear different: organic and structured, light and strong at the same time. These effects can be graphically enhanced by combining modules in different colours: an Iron Hive is a strong design statement in any room. And leaves a lasting impression - in the best sense of the word.Its body made of powder-coated, matt iron is extremely robust, scratch-resistant and can carry a lot: whether files, books or records. An Iron Hive lasts a lifetime and longer. All components come from German quality production.

Blow Lamp

The Bow Lamp is the latest product developed in Mezzasalma's Berlin studio: A lamp made of bended natural ash wood. Its shape seems to be a simple wooden bow, but it conceals an LED light rail that only becomes visible when the integrated touch switch is pressed. Thanks to an equally invisible magnet, it adheres beautifully to the shelving system, but can also - according to the same modular principle - be transformed into a multi-part floor or pendant luminaire.